Expandable bead chain



Sept. 18, 1956 Q W, GRENE 2,763,124

EXPANDABLE BEAD CHAIN Filed Jan. 27, 1955 NVENToR. /J Ver Wa fs 0x7 fe/7e ATTORNEY United States Patent() EXPANDABLE BEAD CHAIN Oliver WatsonGreene, Providence, R. I. Application January 27, 1955, Serial No.484,383 7 Claims (Cl. 59-79) This invention relates to abead chain,particularly an ornamental bead chain adapted for use in necklaces,wrist bands, belts, and/ or the like. Y u

An object of the invention is to provide a bead chain wherein each beadwill be connected to the other by means of an expandable connectorconstructed so as to maintain each bead properly spaced from the other.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a bead connectorelement having a plurality of spaced coil spring parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bead chain wherein thebeads are formed directly on the bead connector element.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as well be more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a bead chain embodyingmy invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the chain expanded;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a tubular element from which thebeads of Figure 1 are formed;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the coil spring bead connector ofFigure l;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing the bead connector of Figure4 inserted in the tubular element of Figure 3, illustrating one step inthe process of forming the beads to encompass the individual springunits of the connector; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section drawn on a larger scale, showing amodified bead spring connector.

The bead chain according to one embodiment of the present inventioncomprises an expandable connector element which is in the form of aplurality of spaced coil spring units made in a continuous length. Thisconnector element is inserted in a length of suitable tubular material.Then by means of suitable machine operation the tubular material isdeformed about the springs into separate bead elements which enclose thesprings within the bead thus formed. The end walls of the bead arespaced from the spring and form shoulders or abutments which restrain orlimit the expansion of the spring so as to prevent a pull exerted on theend portions of the connector to expand the same from stretching thesprings beyond the elastic limit thereof. In turn, the springs providefor maintaining the beads in proper spaced relation along the connectorelement.

In a second embodiment of the invention the connector element is made ofa plurality of linked coil spring units. Each of the springs issimilarly encased in beads formed thereon as above described so as toresult in a bead chain wherein the beads are linked to each other forgreater flexibility and yet retain the expandability of the rst abovedescribed embodiment of the invention.

In proceeding with the rst embodiment of the invention, I provide aconnector designated generally 10 (see ice made from soft drawn wire andthen subjected to known',

spring hardening processes to result in 'a connected series of properlytempered spring sections 11extending in a straight line.

The beads designated 14 (see Figures l and 2) may be formed in variousmanners, asrfor example, individual lengths of lsuitable tubularmaterial may be positioned in place about each spring section 11 andthereafter snbjected to appropriate machine tool operations (not shown)to complete the formation of the bead about the section 11. Preferablythe beadsare formed of tubular plastic material such as the syntheticresins, as for example the,

so-called vinyls. The tubular material may beV any desired color. Thespring connector 10, the ends of which may be formed with eyes 13, isinserted into a length 15 (see Figure 5) of the said plastic materialwith the ends of the connector extending the proper distance beyond theends of the tube 15. The inner diameter of the tube 15 and the diameterof the spring sections are so related as to provide only the necessaryfrictional engagement to maintain proper relation between the two whensubjected to the process of forming the beads on the connector. Theforming of the beads 14 may be accomplished by any suitable plasticworking operation or operations known to workers in the plastic art. Asby way of example, the tube 15 with the connector 10 in proper positiontherein is passed or so-called indexed through a forming machine (notshown) to be passed in succession through a series of hot progressivedies which act on the tube 15 to deform the same at proper spacedintervals into a series of individual separate bead-like elements 14,the ends of which are closed about the straight portion 12 of theconnector 10 resulting in Ia bead chain 16 as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be quite apparent that the beads may take any of various shapesor forms within reason, such for example as circular or polygonal incross section, and combinations of these shapes. It will also beapparent that there is some choice in the spacing between heads and alsoin the amount of expansion permitted in the chain 16 as a whole. In theillustration of the invention in Figures 1 and 2, the ends of the beadsare shown as having been closed to form an orifice slightly larger thanthe diameter of the straight wire portion 12. The ends of the beads,however, if desired, may be closed only suciently to form shoulders toretain the spring unit 11 confined within the bead.

In this first described embodiment of the invention the straight orconnector portion 12 of the connector 10 is hardened and tempered as arethe spring units 11. This provides a certain degree of flexibility inthe connector, that is, the length of wire 12 is suciently exible sothat the bead chain 16 may be shaped to form necklaces, wrist bands,and/ or the like.

It is desirable in some instances that the chain 16 have greaterflexibility than that provided by the flexibility of the straight wireportion 12. To this end (see Figure 6) the connector 17 is preferablymade in a continuous length of soft drawn wire into a plurality ofspaced spring sections. The connecting lengths of the wire between unitsare then severed midway thereof, and the end portions of these severedwires are formed into eyes 19 and 20. Thus, each unit 18 becomes aseparate link to be connected one to the other in the obvious manner toform a linked chain of spring units 18. The connector 17 may then beinserted into a properly dimensioned tubular member and indexed througha forming machine as above described so as to deform the tubular member`into separate beads 21 to ncase' the spring portions of nits 18 asabove described and thus prduc a bead chain wherein each bead i`s'swivelly linked to the other.

I clairnf: n l

l; An expandable bead chain comprising a plnrality of hollow beads, aplurality o f coil springs having a straight wire portion at each endthereof,- said springs being frictionallyembraced by and enclosed inSaidy beads, said beads having an inside longitudinal dimension greaterthan the length of a retracted coil spring, and means con# necting saidbeads to each other in spaced relation through said straight wireportion.

2. An expandable bead chain as set forth lin claim l wherein said beadsare formed of tubular synthetic plastic material. l

3. An expandable bead chain as set forth in claim 1 wherein the meansconnecting said beads comprises an integral continuous length of wirefor said springs and connecting portions.

4; Anexpandable bead chain as set forth in claim l wherein the means toconnect said beads comprises swivel links on each straight wire portion.

5. An expandable bead chain comprising a plurality of beads; eachv ofsaid beadsV consisting of a hollow member having centrally perforatedclosed end portions, a coil spring frictionally embraced within eachhollow member and spaced from said closed end portions when in retractedposition, and means including a straight wire portion intermediate eachpair of said hollow members extending through said perforated endportions connecting said springs to each other. i

6. An expandable bead chain as set forth in claim 5 wherein said meansconnecting said springs is a straight flexible wire portion that isintegral with said springs.

7. An expandable bead chain as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means`connecting said springs is a swivel link at the end of each straightwire portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Domlert Nov. 17, 1942

